Friedlieb runge biography sample

German analytical chemist (1794 – 1867)

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge (8 February 1794 – 25 March 1867) was a Germananalytical chemist.

Runge identified the mydriatic (pupil dilating) effects of belladonna (deadly nightshade) extract, identified caffeine, and discovered the first coal tar dye (aniline blue).

Early life

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge was born near Hamburg on 8 February 1794.

Aniline

From a young age, Runge conducted chemical experiments, serendipitously identifying the mydriatic (pupil dilating) effects of belladonna (deadly nightshade) extract.

Career

In 1819, Runge was invited to show Goethe how belladonna caused dilation of the pupil, which Runge did, using a cat as an experimental subject.

Goethe was so impressed with the demonstration that

"Nachdem Goethe mir seine größte Zufriedenheit sowol über die Erzählung des durch scheinbaren schwarzen Staar Geretteten, wie auch über das andere ausgesprochen, übergab er mir noch eine